The Hindu : Sport : Narang, Tintu can excel: Sethi

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Thursday, Jun 19, 2008
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Narang, Tintu can excel: Sethi

MUMBAI: Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone, two of India’s sporting greats, talked about objectives and vision of the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) project, aimed at supporting Indians with Olympic gold medal potential. World No. 7 shooter in men’s 10m air rifle Gagan Narang and a young athlete from P.T. Usha’s Usha School of Athletics, Tintu Luka, are the first two beneficiaries.

“Winning an Olympic gold medal is the best way to put India on the world stage. It is the same for every nation,” said Sethi, addressing a media briefing at the C.K. Nayudu Hall, CCI. “The project is about doing everything possible towards helping Indian Olympians win the gold.”

Target

According to the former World billiards champion, the target is to raise at least Rs. 100 crore in the next five years, so that about 100 to 200 sportspersons in Olympic disciplines can be funded. “We want to help athletes in the last five per cent of preparations needed for an Olympic gold, either at Beijing or at the 2012 Games.

“Indians who are already there, in terms of Olympic standards, will be funded for getting the best support possible. It can be physical training, mental training or international exposure, anything needed to gain that extra edge, we are prepared to help,” said Sethi.

He singled out Narang and Tintu as talents identified for potential to excel on the Olympic stage. “Gagan is a torchbearer of sorts for the OGQ programme, given his impressive performances up to Beijing and hopes to compete at the top level for many years to come. Tintu is talked about by Usha as a genuine athletic talent, expected to be ready for international stage by 2012.”

“Funding is a major area for us. I am trying to tap NRIs passionate about helping our Olympians win the gold. Even if I can get them to support with $ 10 from each NRI, I am sure we can aim for the gold.”

Padukone emphasised on transparency in the project working, from selection of sportspersons and allocation of funds to the sportspersons. Sethi informed that OGQ is in the process of appointing an agency to monitor the utilisation of funds and set up audit systems for working in a transparent, professional manner.

Both Sethi and Padukone were of the opinion that sporting federations should be involved.

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